Montreal Impact’s Greatest-ever MLS Player - Group C

Brault-Guillard walks into a heavyweight line-up in Group C.

The fans’ voting for Group C containing a few Impact heavyweights, not to mention legends, is now underway to return two players from four in the quest to find Montreal Impact’s Greatest-ever Player.

It kicks off a series of groups over the next few days that will be extremely tight and competitive.

Young Zachary Brault-Guillard must be wondering what he’s done to deserve being pitted against such IMFC luminaries, although it certainly serves acknowledgement of his ability and progress since arriving back on these shores from France. ZBG’s inclusion alongside such exalted company sits comfortably, although you’d still expect the youngster is the outsider in this group.


Here is the Group C line-up -

Patrice Bernier -
Needs absolutely no introduction. ‘Capi’ is a Montreal Impact legend. Maybe THE Montreal Impact legend. After starting off here at the club, his abilities took him travelling; to Norway, Denmark and Germany, before closing the loop with a return to Montreal in time for MLS’ arrival in the city. In a career spanning 436 league appearances and 56 full international caps Bernier captained the Impact for six seasons until retiring in 2017. His 151 MLS appearances is a club record for an outfield player, only goalkeeper Evan Bush has more.

‘Capi’ complete with armband. 

Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images

Justin Mapp -

Philadelphia’s leaving of US-international Justin Mapp unprotected in the 2011 Expansion Draft was their loss and Montreal’s ultimate gain. Mapp went on to play 99 times (all comps) for the Impact and undoubtedly would have surpassed the century with ease had it not been for the injury sustained four mins from the end of a game at DC United in early, 2015.

The injury also deprived the Impact of Mapp as they played out the closing stages of the memorable Champions League campaign a few weeks later. An exciting and cultured winger, he was named tournament MVP after each of the Impact’s successful Canadian Championship campaigns in 2013 and 2014 (a record he shares with Dwayne De Rosario as the only players to win the George Gross Memorial trophy on two occasions).

Justin Mapp in familiar prose for the Impact, taking on opponents.

 Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

Bacary Sagna -
‘Bac’ had a successful almost two-year stint with the Impact, during which time he brought much experience and guile to the side. Previously had an illustrious career with both Arsenal and Manchester City making 267 EPL appearances and winning both the FA Cup and Football League Cup. He was also a regular with Auxerre in France’s top tier before earning his move to England and Benevenuto in Serie A before moving to Canada.

There is also the not so small matter of 65 full caps for France.

Sagna played a total of 40 times for the Impact (all comps), and sits 40th in the list of appearances for the MLS-era.

Bacary Sagna at Wembley after helping Arsenal defeat Hull City in the 2014 FA Cup Final.

 Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Zachary Brault-Guillard -
ZBG’s potential and exciting forward running style ensures his inclusion as a contender. Still to develop fully, defensively, playing as understudy to Sagna can only have helped with his education. Since returning to Montreal from Olympique Lyonnais where he had captained the French club’s second team, ZBG has so far made 20 appearances (all comps) for the Impact.

Something Impact fans have become familiar with... ZBG bursts forward in a match against New England.

 Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images

So there it is folks....

Please vote for your top player from these four. You have until 10pm tomorrow night to vote in our poll, below.

Top two in the percentage votes advance to the Round of 16. The other two are eliminated from the competition.
We will issue the voting template for Group D tomorrow evening.